ManagersRealm: January 2008 Archives

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Jan30	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 139 Gary Bourgeault January 30, 2008 Know More: Herb Kelleher Be Yourself, Business Leadership, control, Core Values, Creativity, embrace paradox, Flexible, friendly, genuine, Great Leader, Herb Kelleher Management, Humor, Lead by Example, LUV, Management Style, participate, Southwest Airlines For an organization to excel, it is necessary to build a culture of "mental ownership." Southwest's culture is supported by hiring, communication and other HR practices. The idea that an HR department (it doesn't matter if it's two people) is developed in a way to support the culture of a company, is an extraordinarily valuable insight. It can't be underestimated. What a bunch of problems, as they relate to our people, would be eliminated if this were the case at companies around the world. One of the greatest reasons this isn't the case, starts right from the beginning of knowing, recognizing and demanding a certain company culture. while many companies will talk about their culture, very few really practically follow through on really having one. Continue Reading Posted at 8:34 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan30	Fed Moves Again, Cuts Interest Rates Another Half a Point Gary Bourgeault January 30, 2008 The move by the Federal Reserve to cut interests another 50 basis points was what the market was hoping for, and what they got, and the Fed cut the rates for the second time in little over a week. The... Continue Reading Posted at 3:11 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan29	Wal-Mart to Offer "Hannah Montana" Merchandise in Disney Deal Gary Bourgeault January 29, 2008 Wal-Mart has landed a deal with Disney (NYSE:DIS) to offer "Hannah Montana" merchandise across its stores. Hannah Montana is the extraordinarily popular show which stars Miley Cyrus, who plays the role of a typical girl in the day, and becomes... Continue Reading Posted at 11:23 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Rudy Giuliani Reportedly Dropping Out of Presidential Race Gary Bourgeault January 29, 2008 Talking to Fox News on Tuesday night, Republican sources said Rudy Giuliani will announce he's quitting the presidential race, and will endorse John McCain. The move is precipitated by his third-place finish in Florida, where he wasn't near the top... Continue Reading Posted at 9:58 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Forbes' List of 10 Wealthiest CEOs in the World Gary Bourgeault January 29, 2008 While a lot of wealthy may think in terms of they would rather play than work, that's not the case for those on the list of Forbes 10 Wealthiest CEOs in the world, and every one of them would probably... Continue Reading Posted at 8:54 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 183 Gary Bourgeault January 29, 2008 "You do things when the opportunities come along"In the usual way that Buffett communicates, he understates a tremendously powerful strategy: that of waiting.There are a lot of managers and business leaders who think if they're not doing something dramatic or... Continue Reading Posted at 7:25 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Paintings Stacked Around Librarian's House bring $8 Million Gary Bourgeault January 29, 2008 Jean Preston had lived in a very modest home, and lived extremely frugally. She traveled by bus, and ate frozen meals. But within her home were extraordinary works of art which she had either bought, or in the case of... Continue Reading Posted at 5:14 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	House Passes Stimulus Package - Will Senate Hold it Up? Gary Bourgeault January 29, 2008 The House passed a stimulus package of $146 billion by an overwhelming 385-35, in an effort to help battle the possibility of a recession. While the initial cost is $146 billion, it will add another $15 billion next year, according to... Continue Reading Posted at 3:41 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan28	Steve Jobs: The Captain of Cool - 43 Gary Bourgeault January 28, 2008 "I’m never taking this to the PC!”That was the explosive response of Steve Jobs when members of the iPod team tried to get him to make it compatible with a Windows-based PC. After the iPod started outperforming expectations by far,... Continue Reading Posted at 11:09 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Men, Don't Go Near Career Women! Gary Bourgeault January 28, 2008 That's the conclusion made by Vox Day at his blog, based on a recent informal study of professionals in Britain. He says it's "increasingly understood that they're far more inclined to marital infidelity than the average woman."His assertion is pulled... Continue Reading Posted at 6:50 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	British Women with Big Boobs Now will Pay the Same Price for Bras - You've Come a Long Way Baby! Gary Bourgeault January 28, 2008 Here's another funny, but dumb idea on this dumb Monday. British women will no longer have to pay more for a bra if they happen to be more endowed their their sisters: if they patronize Asda - a British retailer... Continue Reading Posted at 5:00 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Shopping Leave ... Heartbreak Leave ... What's Next? Gary Bourgeault January 28, 2008 I barely got on my computer today and I've already come across, within about two minutes, three stories that make me want to call this "dumb Monday." If I could count on this type of material every Monday, I'd have... Continue Reading Posted at 3:14 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan27	Mormon Leader, Gordon B. Hinckley, Dies at 97 Gary Bourgeault January 27, 2008 The leader of the Mormon's, Gordon B. Hinckley, called president and prophet by its followers, has died at the age of 97 Sunday in Salt Lake City at his apartment. The announcement was made on the group's Web site.Hinckley had... Continue Reading Posted at 11:27 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Tesco Ramping up its China Operations Gary Bourgeault January 27, 2008 Tesco has been in the Chinese market since a joint venture with a local operator in 2004. Their strategy to this point was to build large stores on the east coast of China, numering over 50 at this time. Now... Continue Reading Posted at 6:54 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Walt Disney: A Man of Visions and Dreams - 6 Gary Bourgeault January 27, 2008 Walt ran out of money, and his company Laugh-O-Grams went bankrupt. Instead of giving up, Walt packed his suitcase and with his unfinished print of The Alice Comedies in hand, headed for Hollywood to start a new business. He was... Continue Reading Posted at 4:43 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Jack Welch Management Mystique - 94 Gary Bourgeault January 27, 2008 "Our job is to sell more than just the box"Welch foreseen long before most his contemporaries that much of the most profitable growth in the future for General Electric (NYSE:GE) would be related to services.He looked at the existing core... Continue Reading Posted at 12:31 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan26	Andy Grove: Only the Paranoid Survive - 49 Gary Bourgeault January 26, 2008 He started at the bottom — "My first assignment was to get a post office box so we could get literature describing the equipment we couldn't afford to buy"— and worked his way up to the rank of one of... Continue Reading Posted at 10:17 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Lego Rises Out of the Ashes Gary Bourgeault January 26, 2008 With the Internet going on all cylinders in 2004, and Lego experiencing the worst loss in their history, many thought the company wouldn't survive the new era.It was in that atmosphere that Jørgen Vig Knudstorp was promoted to CEO of... Continue Reading Posted at 7:34 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Oprah Winfrey: "We Are Each Responsible For Our Own Life" - 14 Gary Bourgeault January 26, 2008 In January 1984 she became anchor of the failing A.M. Chicago, a morning talk show that consistently placed last in the ratings. Winfrey did a complete overhaul of the show, changing its focus to current and controversial topics.There are a... Continue Reading Posted at 2:47 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan25	Fourth-Quarter Profits for Harley-Davidson Crash Gary Bourgeault January 25, 2008 Let by a weakening domestic market, Harley-Davidson Inc. (NYSE:HOG) reported a plunge in profits in the fourth quarter of 26.3 percent, citing concerns of their customers over the uncertain economy."The big thing is not lack of interest," CEO Jim Ziemer... Continue Reading Posted at 10:02 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Margaret Thatcher: The "Iron Lady" - 30 Gary Bourgeault January 25, 2008 "To me, consensus seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects."I've wondered for a long time, after watching a number... Continue Reading Posted at 6:59 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Can Rogue Traders Bring the World Financial System Down? Gary Bourgeault January 25, 2008 The extraordinary, but not uncommon story of how a lone, rogue individual caused the French investment bank Societe Generale to lose $7.2 billion, underscores the need for new and better controls in the industry.It may even be worse, this guy... Continue Reading Posted at 2:50 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan24	The Wisdom Of Peter Drucker - 40 Gary Bourgeault January 24, 2008 "Information is ... analytical and conceptual. But meaning is not; it is perception."When Peter Drucker was talking about this, he was differentiating between analysis and intuition, as well as the whole versus the some of its parts.Drucker asserted that "perception"... Continue Reading Posted at 9:54 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	All of Online Wall Street Journal Won't Be Free Says Rupert Murdoch Gary Bourgeault January 24, 2008 Online Wall Street Journal will be hybrid business model Rupert Murdoch, head of News Corp. (NYSE:NWS-A) which recently completed the acquisition of the Wall Street Journal, said he is going to partially open up the online financial site for free,... Continue Reading Posted at 4:47 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Congress Reaches Agreement on Economic Stimulus Package Gary Bourgeault January 24, 2008 For WorkersAn announcement was made that congressional leaders had reached a deal for a stimulus package that will give those that file taxes a refund of between $600 to $1,200, and if they have children, there will be more for... Continue Reading Posted at 3:21 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan23	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 138 Gary Bourgeault January 23, 2008 "The key to Southwest's business success," he says, "has been defining the company's market niche and adhering to it."We tackle this issue off and on again at managersrealm, because it's one of the more vital issues any business will deal... Continue Reading Posted at 9:56 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 182 Gary Bourgeault January 23, 2008 "Buffett made a career out of taking the road less traveled."As with anything else in life, taking the road less traveled could be good or bad for you, and in business it's the same.Look at some of what are called... Continue Reading Posted at 8:15 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Is Offering $1 Coffee a Good Move by Starbucks? Gary Bourgeault January 23, 2008 The confirmation by Starbucks (Nasdaq:SBUX) that it was starting to offer $1 cups of coffee in some of its Seattle stores caused a surge of speculation on what that means to the company.Some have felt they are in danger of... Continue Reading Posted at 4:39 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan22	Steve Jobs: The Captain of Cool - 42 Gary Bourgeault January 22, 2008 "The notion that it (iPod) would transform Apple from an also-ran computer outfit into a consumer-electronics powerhouse never occurred to anyone."These words by an industry observer are interesting in connection to Steve Jobs and Apple (Nasdaq:AAPL), as they show us... Continue Reading Posted at 10:32 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Wachovia Latest Bank to Get Clobbered for Quarter Gary Bourgeault January 22, 2008 Even when including merger costs, Wachovia (NYSE:WB) way underpermformed expectations, as they were only able to birng in a net income of $51 million for the quarter, equal to 3 cents a share. Last year in the same quarter the... Continue Reading Posted at 9:25 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Was Cutting Overnight Lending Rate Smart Move by Fed? Gary Bourgeault January 22, 2008 Make no mistake about it, the emergency measures to drop the overnight lending rate by 75 basis points by the Federal Reserve was a move to assuage the market, far more than concerns about a recession. The rate now stands... Continue Reading Posted at 4:54 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Walt Disney: A Man of Visions and Dreams - 5 Gary Bourgeault January 22, 2008 Once he returned from France, he wanted to pursue a career in commercial art, which soon lead to his experiments in animation. He began producing short animated films for local businesses, in Kansas City.What I want to mention in reference... Continue Reading Posted at 2:27 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan21	Australian Media Industry Could be Shaken Up with Murdoch, Packer Deal Gary Bourgeault January 21, 2008 The fierce competitive battle over the decades between the Rupert Murdoch and Kerry Packer is part of the legend and lore of the land from down under. So the announcement by sons Lachlan Murdoch and James Packer that they're negotiating... Continue Reading Posted at 6:30 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Petrobras Claims Another Huge Offshore Gas Discovery Gary Bourgeault January 21, 2008 The state-controlled oil company of Brazil, Petroleo Brasileiro SA or Petrobras, claims to have made another huge energy discovery, this time a natural gas field that may be similar in size to the Tupi oil field, discovered late last year.... Continue Reading Posted at 6:03 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	A Key Strategy for Growing Your Business Gary Bourgeault January 21, 2008 The announcement by Electronic Arts (Nasdaq:ERTS) that they're going to offer a release of their popular game "Battlefield Heroes" as an online version only, which can be downloaded to a wide variety of computers, is a great study in how... Continue Reading Posted at 3:25 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan20	The Jack Welch Management Mystique - 93 Gary Bourgeault January 20, 2008 Welch pushed his managers to become ever more productive. Inventories were trimmed, bureaucracies dismantled, and inefficiencies attacked with a vengeance.Jack Welch was prescient in one area after another, and the time after his reign at General Electric (NYSE:GE) continues to reinforce... Continue Reading Posted at 8:32 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Warren Buffett Increases Stake in Burlington Northern to Over 18% Gary Bourgeault January 20, 2008 Warren Buffett's ongoing acquisition of shares in Burlington Northern Sante Fe (NYSE:BNI) has become one of the most interesting financial spectator sports throughout January 2008, as from January 7, he has made a new purchase almost every day the market... Continue Reading Posted at 6:43 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Andy Grove: Only the Paranoid Survive - 48 Gary Bourgeault January 20, 2008 "Knowledge power" supercedes "position power."During Andy Grove's younger years, of which he was a Hungarian Jew growing up with not only the threat of Nazis, but also the ensuing invasion of the Soviet Union in his country, his life was... Continue Reading Posted at 3:34 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan19	Oprah Winfrey: "We Are Each Responsible For Our Own Life" - 13 Gary Bourgeault January 19, 2008 Winfrey seemed to have a magic touch that could turn humdrum programs into interesting shows with solid ratings.On another blog it talks about whether it's better to be revolutionary or evolutionary in our products and services. You can find out... Continue Reading Posted at 8:54 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Margaret Thatcher: The "Iron Lady" - 29 Gary Bourgeault January 19, 2008 "Countries trade with each other - or to be more precise people buy and sell from each other across frontiers - because that is the way to advance their interests. We do not need to beg people to trade with... Continue Reading Posted at 8:39 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Wisdom Of Peter Drucker -39 Gary Bourgeault January 19, 2008 "Technology is not nature, but man. It is not about tools; it's about how man thinks."It's fascinating to me to hear Peter Drucker's insight into the nature of technology. Some may disagree with his comment, but if you look at... Continue Reading Posted at 6:52 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Looking to do Business in Brazil? Know its Fashion Rules Gary Bourgeault January 19, 2008 Brazil is one of the top four emerging markets companies are targeting for growth, with Russia, India and China being the others.Doing business in Brazil has its own, unique cultural rules one must follow, especially as it relates to how... Continue Reading Posted at 5:36 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 137 Gary Bourgeault January 19, 2008 "Cultivate a spirit of giving and make it a way of life not a technique."Herb Kelleher nailed it on the head here when talking the spirit that permeates a company. He completely lived his admonition above, as during his time... Continue Reading Posted at 3:17 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan18	GE's Global Reach Helps Raise 4th Quarter Profits by 4% Gary Bourgeault January 18, 2008 The strong global presence of General Electric (GE) helped the company grow its profits by 4 percent for the fourth quarter, encouraging other companies that international sales could buffer domestic weakness.For the first time in General Electric's history, global sales... Continue Reading Posted at 10:27 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 181 Gary Bourgeault January 18, 2008 “It was a mass hallucination, by far the biggest in my lifetime.”This was the comment of Warren Buffett after he was vindicated for not entering into the dotcom frenzy everyone else was so willing to participate in. During the period... Continue Reading Posted at 5:35 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Wal-Mart Should Enter Russia Within Two Years Says Analyst Gary Bourgeault January 18, 2008 In a research note, UBS analyst Neil Currie says he believes Wal-Mart (WMT) will enter the Russian market sometime in the next year or two."We believe expansion into Russia rounds out Wal-Mart's 'BRIC' (Brazil, Russia, India and China) exposure," UBS... Continue Reading Posted at 3:26 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan17	We Need to be Cautious of too much Macro Information Gary Bourgeault January 17, 2008 Now that the ongoing parade of negative information in a few economic sectors is continuing to bombard us, it is a good time to maybe catch our breath and take a step back. For example, this report on the global... Continue Reading Posted at 7:57 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Merrill Lynch Ends Fourth Quarter with Record Loss Gary Bourgeault January 17, 2008 Merrill Lynch & Co. (MER) ended the fourth quarter with their largest loss, as they had to writedown $16.7 billion in subprime mortgage related assets. They ended the quarter with a record $9.83 billion net loss. Last year they had... Continue Reading Posted at 7:14 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Steve Jobs: The Captain of Cool - 41 Gary Bourgeault January 17, 2008 It required something counterinstinctual from Jobs: the putting of old enmities aside.Steve Jobs has a quality that can be both a strength and weakness. His demand for what he wants has resulted in extraordinary product results, but as it applies... Continue Reading Posted at 6:20 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Ben Bernanke Now Backing Call for Economic Stimulus Package: Should He? Gary Bourgeault January 17, 2008 With the pressure building from the growing emotional response to the economic slowdown in the US, Ben Bernanke is backing a stimulus package in hopes of getting the economy growing faster.I'm personally uncomfortable with the idea of making these decisions based on... Continue Reading Posted at 5:46 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Stemagen First Laboratory to Produce Cloned Human Embryos Gary Bourgeault January 17, 2008 It's fun to watch the responses of the colleagues of scientists from the Stemagen Corp., who have reportedly become the first laboratory to produce cloned human embryos.Evidently a European laboratory has previously cloned human embryos, but through a different process... Continue Reading Posted at 2:38 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan16	Walt Disney: A Man of Visions and Dreams - 4 Gary Bourgeault January 16, 2008 His ambulance was covered from stem to stern, not with stock camouflage, but with Disney cartoons.Walt Disney tried to enlist in the armed forces in the fall of 1918, but was rejected for being only sixteen. To get overseas and... Continue Reading Posted at 11:03 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Ivanka Trump Given OK to Serve on The Donald's Casino Board of Directors Gary Bourgeault January 16, 2008 After several months of checking her background and finances, the New Jersey state Casino Control Commission gave Ivanka Trump final approval to sit on the board of directors of Trump Entertainment Resorts. The company operates three casinos in the state.She... Continue Reading Posted at 7:51 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Jack Welch Management Mystique - 92 Gary Bourgeault January 16, 2008 When he was selected as the new CEO of General Electric, Jack Welch was certainly not everyone's top pick. Jack Welch faced one of the most difficult situations anybody entering into a CEO position could possibly face.While not too many... Continue Reading Posted at 6:40 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Beige Book Survey Says Economy Continuing to Grow, Although Slower Gary Bourgeault January 16, 2008 Even though the housing and auto sectors of the economy continue to weaken, the overall economy continues to slowly grow, according to the Beige Book survey of regional banks by the Federal Reserve. Of the twelve Federal Reserve districts, seven... Continue Reading Posted at 4:48 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Oracle Acquisition of BEA Systems Inc. and Mergers & Acquistions Impact Gary Bourgeault January 16, 2008 Oracle's (ORCL) acquisition of BEA Systems (BEA) offers an interesting look at a strategy that can be used to battle our competition. The huge price Oracle paid for the company raised a few eyebrows and questions as well. Peter Goldmacher... Continue Reading Posted at 2:46 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan15	Andy Grove: Only the Paranoid Survive - 47 Gary Bourgeault January 15, 2008 "It is the singular ability to inhabit both roles at once--subject and object, actor and audience, master and student--that sets Grove apart."What a powerful reality said in the words above of one of those writing about Grove's impact as a... Continue Reading Posted at 9:57 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Stay the Course in the Midst of the Economic Storm Gary Bourgeault January 15, 2008 A good article in the Motley Fool talks about fear and investing. Jim Mueller takes a couple of the great investors like Peter Lynch and Warren Buffett, and talks about their mentality as they invested in companies.Much if it talks... Continue Reading Posted at 9:24 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Oprah Winfrey: "We Are Each Responsible For Our Own Life" - 12 Gary Bourgeault January 15, 2008 "I've learned that you can't have everything and do everything at the same time."One reason this is so important as it relates to management and business, is it keeps us from reaching prematurely for something. If we reach for something... Continue Reading Posted at 4:53 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Citigroup Records $9.83 Billion Loss on $18 Billion Writedown Gary Bourgeault January 15, 2008 Citigroup Inc. (C) has been open for business for 196 years, and this quarter they posted the largest losses in their history, ending at almost $10 billion. Write downs on subprime mortgages during that period reached a staggering $18 billion.Even... Continue Reading Posted at 2:51 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Sprint Nextel Corp. to Lay Off Several Thousand Workers Gary Bourgeault January 15, 2008 A report from the Wall Street Journal says that Sprint Nextel Corp. (S) plans on laying of a "few thousand" people, citing people close to the situation.While the company claims it's related to subprime mortgages and the economy, in reality... Continue Reading Posted at 1:39 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan14	Margaret Thatcher: The "Iron Lady" - 28 Gary Bourgeault January 14, 2008 "It is in a country's interests to keep faith with its allies. States in this sense are like people. If you have a reputation for exacting favors and not returning them, the favours dry up."There's two lessons here as it... Continue Reading Posted at 6:39 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	India and China Sign 11 Agreements, Seeking Stronger Ties Gary Bourgeault January 14, 2008 The neighbors with the two largest populations of any countries in the world have been increasing trade substantially over the last several years, and as a result have come together to find common ground on a number of issues, including... Continue Reading Posted at 5:12 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Jack Welch says "No" Recession Gary Bourgeault January 14, 2008 This morning on a segmant of MSNBC's (GE) "Morning Joe," former General Electric CEO Jack Welch said he doesn't believe there'll be any recession. A recession is defined as two or more straight quarters where the gross domestic product (GDP)... Continue Reading Posted at 4:14 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Wisdom Of Peter Drucker -38 Gary Bourgeault January 14, 2008 "Rank does not confer privilege or give power. It imposes responsibility."To this day the misconception that leadership is a power position and gives you privileges, is still very prevalent among people hoping to reach these heights. When Drucker says privileges,... Continue Reading Posted at 3:30 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan13	Boeing Gets $6 Billion Order from Gulf Air for 787s Gary Bourgeault January 13, 2008 Boeing Co. (BA) has officially signed an agreement with Gulf Air, the national airline carrier for Bahrain, for an order of up to 24 Dreamliner aircraft worth $6 billion.The deal is structured so there is a definite commitment for 16... Continue Reading Posted at 11:44 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 136 Gary Bourgeault January 13, 2008 "Celebrate everything."We've talked before about the idea of celebrating everything with Herb Kelleher, this time we'll look at the reasons why he had this as part of the way he operated Southwest Airlines (LUV).While celebration is fun and encouraging, and... Continue Reading Posted at 11:05 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Wal-Mart Downsizing in Response to Tesco Threat - Creates New Concept Grocery Store Gary Bourgeault January 13, 2008 In response to the British invasion of the streamlined and popular Tesco stores, Wal-Mart (WMT) will begin the launch of a new concept grocery store this year, starting Phoenix, Arizona area. The new stores will operate under the name "Marketside,"... Continue Reading Posted at 9:15 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 180 Gary Bourgeault January 13, 2008 “You’re neither right nor wrong because other people agree with you. You’re right because your facts are right and your reasoning is right – and that’s the only thing that makes you right. And if your facts and reasoning are... Continue Reading Posted at 8:01 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	General Motors Buys Stake in Cellulosic Ethanol Company Gary Bourgeault January 13, 2008 General Motors Corp. (GM) announced on Sunday that it was buying a stake in Coskata, Inc., a company working on providing cellulosic ethanol, an alternative fuel for automobiles.Getting past the obvious marketing ploy of the effort, let's look at it... Continue Reading Posted at 3:20 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan12	Steve Jobs: The Captain of Cool - 40 Gary Bourgeault January 12, 2008 Jobs is a master one-line marketer!One thing very few people are equal to Steve Jobs in is the ability to market something with a simple one-line message. He could speak something that would be taken as hyperbole if anyone else... Continue Reading Posted at 9:55 PM \| Permalink \| Comments

Jan30	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 139 Gary Bourgeault January 30, 2008 Know More: Herb Kelleher Be Yourself, Business Leadership, control, Core Values, Creativity, embrace paradox, Flexible, friendly, genuine, Great Leader, Herb Kelleher Management, Humor, Lead by Example, LUV, Management Style, participate, Southwest Airlines For an organization to excel, it is necessary to build a culture of "mental ownership." Southwest's culture is supported by hiring, communication and other HR practices. The idea that an HR department (it doesn't matter if it's two people) is developed in a way to support the culture of a company, is an extraordinarily valuable insight. It can't be underestimated. What a bunch of problems, as they relate to our people, would be eliminated if this were the case at companies around the world. One of the greatest reasons this isn't the case, starts right from the beginning of knowing, recognizing and demanding a certain company culture. while many companies will talk about their culture, very few really practically follow through on really having one. Continue Reading Posted at 8:34 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan30	Fed Moves Again, Cuts Interest Rates Another Half a Point Gary Bourgeault January 30, 2008 The move by the Federal Reserve to cut interests another 50 basis points was what the market was hoping for, and what they got, and the Fed cut the rates for the second time in little over a week. The... Continue Reading Posted at 3:11 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan29	Wal-Mart to Offer "Hannah Montana" Merchandise in Disney Deal Gary Bourgeault January 29, 2008 Wal-Mart has landed a deal with Disney (NYSE:DIS) to offer "Hannah Montana" merchandise across its stores. Hannah Montana is the extraordinarily popular show which stars Miley Cyrus, who plays the role of a typical girl in the day, and becomes... Continue Reading Posted at 11:23 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Rudy Giuliani Reportedly Dropping Out of Presidential Race Gary Bourgeault January 29, 2008 Talking to Fox News on Tuesday night, Republican sources said Rudy Giuliani will announce he's quitting the presidential race, and will endorse John McCain. The move is precipitated by his third-place finish in Florida, where he wasn't near the top... Continue Reading Posted at 9:58 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Forbes' List of 10 Wealthiest CEOs in the World Gary Bourgeault January 29, 2008 While a lot of wealthy may think in terms of they would rather play than work, that's not the case for those on the list of Forbes 10 Wealthiest CEOs in the world, and every one of them would probably... Continue Reading Posted at 8:54 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 183 Gary Bourgeault January 29, 2008 "You do things when the opportunities come along"In the usual way that Buffett communicates, he understates a tremendously powerful strategy: that of waiting.There are a lot of managers and business leaders who think if they're not doing something dramatic or... Continue Reading Posted at 7:25 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Paintings Stacked Around Librarian's House bring $8 Million Gary Bourgeault January 29, 2008 Jean Preston had lived in a very modest home, and lived extremely frugally. She traveled by bus, and ate frozen meals. But within her home were extraordinary works of art which she had either bought, or in the case of... Continue Reading Posted at 5:14 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	House Passes Stimulus Package - Will Senate Hold it Up? Gary Bourgeault January 29, 2008 The House passed a stimulus package of $146 billion by an overwhelming 385-35, in an effort to help battle the possibility of a recession. While the initial cost is $146 billion, it will add another $15 billion next year, according to... Continue Reading Posted at 3:41 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan28	Steve Jobs: The Captain of Cool - 43 Gary Bourgeault January 28, 2008 "I’m never taking this to the PC!”That was the explosive response of Steve Jobs when members of the iPod team tried to get him to make it compatible with a Windows-based PC. After the iPod started outperforming expectations by far,... Continue Reading Posted at 11:09 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Men, Don't Go Near Career Women! Gary Bourgeault January 28, 2008 That's the conclusion made by Vox Day at his blog, based on a recent informal study of professionals in Britain. He says it's "increasingly understood that they're far more inclined to marital infidelity than the average woman."His assertion is pulled... Continue Reading Posted at 6:50 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	British Women with Big Boobs Now will Pay the Same Price for Bras - You've Come a Long Way Baby! Gary Bourgeault January 28, 2008 Here's another funny, but dumb idea on this dumb Monday. British women will no longer have to pay more for a bra if they happen to be more endowed their their sisters: if they patronize Asda - a British retailer... Continue Reading Posted at 5:00 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Shopping Leave ... Heartbreak Leave ... What's Next? Gary Bourgeault January 28, 2008 I barely got on my computer today and I've already come across, within about two minutes, three stories that make me want to call this "dumb Monday." If I could count on this type of material every Monday, I'd have... Continue Reading Posted at 3:14 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan27	Mormon Leader, Gordon B. Hinckley, Dies at 97 Gary Bourgeault January 27, 2008 The leader of the Mormon's, Gordon B. Hinckley, called president and prophet by its followers, has died at the age of 97 Sunday in Salt Lake City at his apartment. The announcement was made on the group's Web site.Hinckley had... Continue Reading Posted at 11:27 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Tesco Ramping up its China Operations Gary Bourgeault January 27, 2008 Tesco has been in the Chinese market since a joint venture with a local operator in 2004. Their strategy to this point was to build large stores on the east coast of China, numering over 50 at this time. Now... Continue Reading Posted at 6:54 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Walt Disney: A Man of Visions and Dreams - 6 Gary Bourgeault January 27, 2008 Walt ran out of money, and his company Laugh-O-Grams went bankrupt. Instead of giving up, Walt packed his suitcase and with his unfinished print of The Alice Comedies in hand, headed for Hollywood to start a new business. He was... Continue Reading Posted at 4:43 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Jack Welch Management Mystique - 94 Gary Bourgeault January 27, 2008 "Our job is to sell more than just the box"Welch foreseen long before most his contemporaries that much of the most profitable growth in the future for General Electric (NYSE:GE) would be related to services.He looked at the existing core... Continue Reading Posted at 12:31 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan26	Andy Grove: Only the Paranoid Survive - 49 Gary Bourgeault January 26, 2008 He started at the bottom — "My first assignment was to get a post office box so we could get literature describing the equipment we couldn't afford to buy"— and worked his way up to the rank of one of... Continue Reading Posted at 10:17 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Lego Rises Out of the Ashes Gary Bourgeault January 26, 2008 With the Internet going on all cylinders in 2004, and Lego experiencing the worst loss in their history, many thought the company wouldn't survive the new era.It was in that atmosphere that Jørgen Vig Knudstorp was promoted to CEO of... Continue Reading Posted at 7:34 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Oprah Winfrey: "We Are Each Responsible For Our Own Life" - 14 Gary Bourgeault January 26, 2008 In January 1984 she became anchor of the failing A.M. Chicago, a morning talk show that consistently placed last in the ratings. Winfrey did a complete overhaul of the show, changing its focus to current and controversial topics.There are a... Continue Reading Posted at 2:47 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan25	Fourth-Quarter Profits for Harley-Davidson Crash Gary Bourgeault January 25, 2008 Let by a weakening domestic market, Harley-Davidson Inc. (NYSE:HOG) reported a plunge in profits in the fourth quarter of 26.3 percent, citing concerns of their customers over the uncertain economy."The big thing is not lack of interest," CEO Jim Ziemer... Continue Reading Posted at 10:02 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Margaret Thatcher: The "Iron Lady" - 30 Gary Bourgeault January 25, 2008 "To me, consensus seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects."I've wondered for a long time, after watching a number... Continue Reading Posted at 6:59 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Can Rogue Traders Bring the World Financial System Down? Gary Bourgeault January 25, 2008 The extraordinary, but not uncommon story of how a lone, rogue individual caused the French investment bank Societe Generale to lose $7.2 billion, underscores the need for new and better controls in the industry.It may even be worse, this guy... Continue Reading Posted at 2:50 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan24	The Wisdom Of Peter Drucker - 40 Gary Bourgeault January 24, 2008 "Information is ... analytical and conceptual. But meaning is not; it is perception."When Peter Drucker was talking about this, he was differentiating between analysis and intuition, as well as the whole versus the some of its parts.Drucker asserted that "perception"... Continue Reading Posted at 9:54 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	All of Online Wall Street Journal Won't Be Free Says Rupert Murdoch Gary Bourgeault January 24, 2008 Online Wall Street Journal will be hybrid business model Rupert Murdoch, head of News Corp. (NYSE:NWS-A) which recently completed the acquisition of the Wall Street Journal, said he is going to partially open up the online financial site for free,... Continue Reading Posted at 4:47 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Congress Reaches Agreement on Economic Stimulus Package Gary Bourgeault January 24, 2008 For WorkersAn announcement was made that congressional leaders had reached a deal for a stimulus package that will give those that file taxes a refund of between $600 to $1,200, and if they have children, there will be more for... Continue Reading Posted at 3:21 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan23	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 138 Gary Bourgeault January 23, 2008 "The key to Southwest's business success," he says, "has been defining the company's market niche and adhering to it."We tackle this issue off and on again at managersrealm, because it's one of the more vital issues any business will deal... Continue Reading Posted at 9:56 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 182 Gary Bourgeault January 23, 2008 "Buffett made a career out of taking the road less traveled."As with anything else in life, taking the road less traveled could be good or bad for you, and in business it's the same.Look at some of what are called... Continue Reading Posted at 8:15 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Is Offering $1 Coffee a Good Move by Starbucks? Gary Bourgeault January 23, 2008 The confirmation by Starbucks (Nasdaq:SBUX) that it was starting to offer $1 cups of coffee in some of its Seattle stores caused a surge of speculation on what that means to the company.Some have felt they are in danger of... Continue Reading Posted at 4:39 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan22	Steve Jobs: The Captain of Cool - 42 Gary Bourgeault January 22, 2008 "The notion that it (iPod) would transform Apple from an also-ran computer outfit into a consumer-electronics powerhouse never occurred to anyone."These words by an industry observer are interesting in connection to Steve Jobs and Apple (Nasdaq:AAPL), as they show us... Continue Reading Posted at 10:32 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Wachovia Latest Bank to Get Clobbered for Quarter Gary Bourgeault January 22, 2008 Even when including merger costs, Wachovia (NYSE:WB) way underpermformed expectations, as they were only able to birng in a net income of $51 million for the quarter, equal to 3 cents a share. Last year in the same quarter the... Continue Reading Posted at 9:25 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Was Cutting Overnight Lending Rate Smart Move by Fed? Gary Bourgeault January 22, 2008 Make no mistake about it, the emergency measures to drop the overnight lending rate by 75 basis points by the Federal Reserve was a move to assuage the market, far more than concerns about a recession. The rate now stands... Continue Reading Posted at 4:54 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Walt Disney: A Man of Visions and Dreams - 5 Gary Bourgeault January 22, 2008 Once he returned from France, he wanted to pursue a career in commercial art, which soon lead to his experiments in animation. He began producing short animated films for local businesses, in Kansas City.What I want to mention in reference... Continue Reading Posted at 2:27 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan21	Australian Media Industry Could be Shaken Up with Murdoch, Packer Deal Gary Bourgeault January 21, 2008 The fierce competitive battle over the decades between the Rupert Murdoch and Kerry Packer is part of the legend and lore of the land from down under. So the announcement by sons Lachlan Murdoch and James Packer that they're negotiating... Continue Reading Posted at 6:30 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Petrobras Claims Another Huge Offshore Gas Discovery Gary Bourgeault January 21, 2008 The state-controlled oil company of Brazil, Petroleo Brasileiro SA or Petrobras, claims to have made another huge energy discovery, this time a natural gas field that may be similar in size to the Tupi oil field, discovered late last year.... Continue Reading Posted at 6:03 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	A Key Strategy for Growing Your Business Gary Bourgeault January 21, 2008 The announcement by Electronic Arts (Nasdaq:ERTS) that they're going to offer a release of their popular game "Battlefield Heroes" as an online version only, which can be downloaded to a wide variety of computers, is a great study in how... Continue Reading Posted at 3:25 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan20	The Jack Welch Management Mystique - 93 Gary Bourgeault January 20, 2008 Welch pushed his managers to become ever more productive. Inventories were trimmed, bureaucracies dismantled, and inefficiencies attacked with a vengeance.Jack Welch was prescient in one area after another, and the time after his reign at General Electric (NYSE:GE) continues to reinforce... Continue Reading Posted at 8:32 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Warren Buffett Increases Stake in Burlington Northern to Over 18% Gary Bourgeault January 20, 2008 Warren Buffett's ongoing acquisition of shares in Burlington Northern Sante Fe (NYSE:BNI) has become one of the most interesting financial spectator sports throughout January 2008, as from January 7, he has made a new purchase almost every day the market... Continue Reading Posted at 6:43 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Andy Grove: Only the Paranoid Survive - 48 Gary Bourgeault January 20, 2008 "Knowledge power" supercedes "position power."During Andy Grove's younger years, of which he was a Hungarian Jew growing up with not only the threat of Nazis, but also the ensuing invasion of the Soviet Union in his country, his life was... Continue Reading Posted at 3:34 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan19	Oprah Winfrey: "We Are Each Responsible For Our Own Life" - 13 Gary Bourgeault January 19, 2008 Winfrey seemed to have a magic touch that could turn humdrum programs into interesting shows with solid ratings.On another blog it talks about whether it's better to be revolutionary or evolutionary in our products and services. You can find out... Continue Reading Posted at 8:54 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Margaret Thatcher: The "Iron Lady" - 29 Gary Bourgeault January 19, 2008 "Countries trade with each other - or to be more precise people buy and sell from each other across frontiers - because that is the way to advance their interests. We do not need to beg people to trade with... Continue Reading Posted at 8:39 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Wisdom Of Peter Drucker -39 Gary Bourgeault January 19, 2008 "Technology is not nature, but man. It is not about tools; it's about how man thinks."It's fascinating to me to hear Peter Drucker's insight into the nature of technology. Some may disagree with his comment, but if you look at... Continue Reading Posted at 6:52 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Looking to do Business in Brazil? Know its Fashion Rules Gary Bourgeault January 19, 2008 Brazil is one of the top four emerging markets companies are targeting for growth, with Russia, India and China being the others.Doing business in Brazil has its own, unique cultural rules one must follow, especially as it relates to how... Continue Reading Posted at 5:36 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 137 Gary Bourgeault January 19, 2008 "Cultivate a spirit of giving and make it a way of life not a technique."Herb Kelleher nailed it on the head here when talking the spirit that permeates a company. He completely lived his admonition above, as during his time... Continue Reading Posted at 3:17 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan18	GE's Global Reach Helps Raise 4th Quarter Profits by 4% Gary Bourgeault January 18, 2008 The strong global presence of General Electric (GE) helped the company grow its profits by 4 percent for the fourth quarter, encouraging other companies that international sales could buffer domestic weakness.For the first time in General Electric's history, global sales... Continue Reading Posted at 10:27 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 181 Gary Bourgeault January 18, 2008 “It was a mass hallucination, by far the biggest in my lifetime.”This was the comment of Warren Buffett after he was vindicated for not entering into the dotcom frenzy everyone else was so willing to participate in. During the period... Continue Reading Posted at 5:35 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Wal-Mart Should Enter Russia Within Two Years Says Analyst Gary Bourgeault January 18, 2008 In a research note, UBS analyst Neil Currie says he believes Wal-Mart (WMT) will enter the Russian market sometime in the next year or two."We believe expansion into Russia rounds out Wal-Mart's 'BRIC' (Brazil, Russia, India and China) exposure," UBS... Continue Reading Posted at 3:26 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan17	We Need to be Cautious of too much Macro Information Gary Bourgeault January 17, 2008 Now that the ongoing parade of negative information in a few economic sectors is continuing to bombard us, it is a good time to maybe catch our breath and take a step back. For example, this report on the global... Continue Reading Posted at 7:57 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Merrill Lynch Ends Fourth Quarter with Record Loss Gary Bourgeault January 17, 2008 Merrill Lynch & Co. (MER) ended the fourth quarter with their largest loss, as they had to writedown $16.7 billion in subprime mortgage related assets. They ended the quarter with a record $9.83 billion net loss. Last year they had... Continue Reading Posted at 7:14 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Steve Jobs: The Captain of Cool - 41 Gary Bourgeault January 17, 2008 It required something counterinstinctual from Jobs: the putting of old enmities aside.Steve Jobs has a quality that can be both a strength and weakness. His demand for what he wants has resulted in extraordinary product results, but as it applies... Continue Reading Posted at 6:20 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Ben Bernanke Now Backing Call for Economic Stimulus Package: Should He? Gary Bourgeault January 17, 2008 With the pressure building from the growing emotional response to the economic slowdown in the US, Ben Bernanke is backing a stimulus package in hopes of getting the economy growing faster.I'm personally uncomfortable with the idea of making these decisions based on... Continue Reading Posted at 5:46 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Stemagen First Laboratory to Produce Cloned Human Embryos Gary Bourgeault January 17, 2008 It's fun to watch the responses of the colleagues of scientists from the Stemagen Corp., who have reportedly become the first laboratory to produce cloned human embryos.Evidently a European laboratory has previously cloned human embryos, but through a different process... Continue Reading Posted at 2:38 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan16	Walt Disney: A Man of Visions and Dreams - 4 Gary Bourgeault January 16, 2008 His ambulance was covered from stem to stern, not with stock camouflage, but with Disney cartoons.Walt Disney tried to enlist in the armed forces in the fall of 1918, but was rejected for being only sixteen. To get overseas and... Continue Reading Posted at 11:03 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Ivanka Trump Given OK to Serve on The Donald's Casino Board of Directors Gary Bourgeault January 16, 2008 After several months of checking her background and finances, the New Jersey state Casino Control Commission gave Ivanka Trump final approval to sit on the board of directors of Trump Entertainment Resorts. The company operates three casinos in the state.She... Continue Reading Posted at 7:51 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Jack Welch Management Mystique - 92 Gary Bourgeault January 16, 2008 When he was selected as the new CEO of General Electric, Jack Welch was certainly not everyone's top pick. Jack Welch faced one of the most difficult situations anybody entering into a CEO position could possibly face.While not too many... Continue Reading Posted at 6:40 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Beige Book Survey Says Economy Continuing to Grow, Although Slower Gary Bourgeault January 16, 2008 Even though the housing and auto sectors of the economy continue to weaken, the overall economy continues to slowly grow, according to the Beige Book survey of regional banks by the Federal Reserve. Of the twelve Federal Reserve districts, seven... Continue Reading Posted at 4:48 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Oracle Acquisition of BEA Systems Inc. and Mergers & Acquistions Impact Gary Bourgeault January 16, 2008 Oracle's (ORCL) acquisition of BEA Systems (BEA) offers an interesting look at a strategy that can be used to battle our competition. The huge price Oracle paid for the company raised a few eyebrows and questions as well. Peter Goldmacher... Continue Reading Posted at 2:46 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan15	Andy Grove: Only the Paranoid Survive - 47 Gary Bourgeault January 15, 2008 "It is the singular ability to inhabit both roles at once--subject and object, actor and audience, master and student--that sets Grove apart."What a powerful reality said in the words above of one of those writing about Grove's impact as a... Continue Reading Posted at 9:57 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Stay the Course in the Midst of the Economic Storm Gary Bourgeault January 15, 2008 A good article in the Motley Fool talks about fear and investing. Jim Mueller takes a couple of the great investors like Peter Lynch and Warren Buffett, and talks about their mentality as they invested in companies.Much if it talks... Continue Reading Posted at 9:24 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Oprah Winfrey: "We Are Each Responsible For Our Own Life" - 12 Gary Bourgeault January 15, 2008 "I've learned that you can't have everything and do everything at the same time."One reason this is so important as it relates to management and business, is it keeps us from reaching prematurely for something. If we reach for something... Continue Reading Posted at 4:53 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Citigroup Records $9.83 Billion Loss on $18 Billion Writedown Gary Bourgeault January 15, 2008 Citigroup Inc. (C) has been open for business for 196 years, and this quarter they posted the largest losses in their history, ending at almost $10 billion. Write downs on subprime mortgages during that period reached a staggering $18 billion.Even... Continue Reading Posted at 2:51 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Sprint Nextel Corp. to Lay Off Several Thousand Workers Gary Bourgeault January 15, 2008 A report from the Wall Street Journal says that Sprint Nextel Corp. (S) plans on laying of a "few thousand" people, citing people close to the situation.While the company claims it's related to subprime mortgages and the economy, in reality... Continue Reading Posted at 1:39 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan14	Margaret Thatcher: The "Iron Lady" - 28 Gary Bourgeault January 14, 2008 "It is in a country's interests to keep faith with its allies. States in this sense are like people. If you have a reputation for exacting favors and not returning them, the favours dry up."There's two lessons here as it... Continue Reading Posted at 6:39 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	India and China Sign 11 Agreements, Seeking Stronger Ties Gary Bourgeault January 14, 2008 The neighbors with the two largest populations of any countries in the world have been increasing trade substantially over the last several years, and as a result have come together to find common ground on a number of issues, including... Continue Reading Posted at 5:12 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Jack Welch says "No" Recession Gary Bourgeault January 14, 2008 This morning on a segmant of MSNBC's (GE) "Morning Joe," former General Electric CEO Jack Welch said he doesn't believe there'll be any recession. A recession is defined as two or more straight quarters where the gross domestic product (GDP)... Continue Reading Posted at 4:14 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Wisdom Of Peter Drucker -38 Gary Bourgeault January 14, 2008 "Rank does not confer privilege or give power. It imposes responsibility."To this day the misconception that leadership is a power position and gives you privileges, is still very prevalent among people hoping to reach these heights. When Drucker says privileges,... Continue Reading Posted at 3:30 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan13	Boeing Gets $6 Billion Order from Gulf Air for 787s Gary Bourgeault January 13, 2008 Boeing Co. (BA) has officially signed an agreement with Gulf Air, the national airline carrier for Bahrain, for an order of up to 24 Dreamliner aircraft worth $6 billion.The deal is structured so there is a definite commitment for 16... Continue Reading Posted at 11:44 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 136 Gary Bourgeault January 13, 2008 "Celebrate everything."We've talked before about the idea of celebrating everything with Herb Kelleher, this time we'll look at the reasons why he had this as part of the way he operated Southwest Airlines (LUV).While celebration is fun and encouraging, and... Continue Reading Posted at 11:05 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Wal-Mart Downsizing in Response to Tesco Threat - Creates New Concept Grocery Store Gary Bourgeault January 13, 2008 In response to the British invasion of the streamlined and popular Tesco stores, Wal-Mart (WMT) will begin the launch of a new concept grocery store this year, starting Phoenix, Arizona area. The new stores will operate under the name "Marketside,"... Continue Reading Posted at 9:15 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 180 Gary Bourgeault January 13, 2008 “You’re neither right nor wrong because other people agree with you. You’re right because your facts are right and your reasoning is right – and that’s the only thing that makes you right. And if your facts and reasoning are... Continue Reading Posted at 8:01 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	General Motors Buys Stake in Cellulosic Ethanol Company Gary Bourgeault January 13, 2008 General Motors Corp. (GM) announced on Sunday that it was buying a stake in Coskata, Inc., a company working on providing cellulosic ethanol, an alternative fuel for automobiles.Getting past the obvious marketing ploy of the effort, let's look at it... Continue Reading Posted at 3:20 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan12	Steve Jobs: The Captain of Cool - 40 Gary Bourgeault January 12, 2008 Jobs is a master one-line marketer!One thing very few people are equal to Steve Jobs in is the ability to market something with a simple one-line message. He could speak something that would be taken as hyperbole if anyone else... Continue Reading Posted at 9:55 PM \| Permalink \| Comments

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